Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 626 to 650 of 5000 results

Galatians 1:1-10

Sermon

Richard Gribble

... have we heard a person say, "It's not my responsibility, not my concern. I don't want to get involved; other people can worry about it"? The challenge that this comment, so often heard by us or even one we have used ourselves, can also be illustrated by a little story. Fred Everybody, Thomas Somebody, Peter Anybody, and Joe Nobody were neighbors, but not the type that most would want to know. They were odd people and difficult to understand. The way they lived their lives was a shame. These men all went to ...

627. Restarting Joy - Rejoice

Isaiah 55:10-13

Sermon

Derl G. Keefer

... in grace. Rejoice in life! ____________________ 1. Charles Swindoll, Laugh Again (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1991), p. 35. 2. Richard Taylor, editor, Beacon Dictionary of Theology (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1983), p. 70. 3. King Duncan, Lively Illustrations for Effective Preaching (Knoxville: Seven Worlds Publishing, 1987), p. 68. Used by permission. Joy does not depend on the external events of life. Adversity may hit us with gale-like force, but the joy in our hearts will be determined ...

628. Extreme Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... 1 John 4:19). How will people know that we are followers of Jesus? By our love. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is . . .” 1. Wayne Brouwer, Wedding Homilies (Seven Worlds). 2. http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/illustrations-about-palm-sunday.asp 3. http://www.lesliepuryear.com/2011/04/doug-nichols-story.html. 4. Pritchard credits Pastor Leith Anderson with this example. Cited at http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/2000-11-26-The-Greatest-of-These/.

629. What the Ascension Tells Us

Luke 24:50-53

Sermon

King Duncan

... a clear five‑yard lead and the race as good as won, the last runner dropped the baton and cost them the race. Pictures showed the despair on the face of that last runner. Shortly after the games Barnhouse was looking at an illustrated magazine with pictures of the Olympics. The magazine happened to have texts under the pictures in three languages. The English said, “They muffed the baton,” and the French said they dropped “le temoin.” “Temoin” is an ordinary French word which means witness ...

630. A Man of God

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

King Duncan

... . 6. http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/McLarty/Matthew/Matt%2001.18-25,%20FaithfulJoseph.htm. 7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_are_the_World. Cited in Eddie Jones, My Father’s Business: 30 Inspirational Stories for Finding God’s Will For Your Life. 8. http://68.101.62.115:8000/FMRes/FMPJS?-db=illustrations&-layid=1&-format=editcss.htm&-max=1&-skip=4&-token.0=25&-mode=edit&-recid=33174&-op=bw ...

631. Good News about Sparrows

Matthew 10:1-42

Sermon

King Duncan

... ://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/if-his-eye-is-on-the-sparrow-david-dykes-sermon-on-gods-love-160003.asp?Page=4. 5. Gene Shalit, Great Hollywood Wit (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2002), pp. 50-51. 6. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Paul Tan, p. 440. Cited in Raymond McHenry, Something to Think About (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1998). 7. Saul Wisnia with Dan Schlossberg, Wit and Wisdom of Baseball (Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd., 1999), p. 178. 8. Charles L. Allen ...

632. Follow the Directions

Psalm 119:9, 18, 89

Sermon

James Merritt

... person on this planet who has ever been born and who ever will be. It has never been more illustrated than it has in the 21st century. We have an unquenchable thirst and an insatiable appetite for information and ... the Bible. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22, NIV) Let me give you an illustration from this one verse of how what I’ve told you to do works. When I read this passage that tells me I am to do the word and not just ...

633. Ignite: Fire and Water

Acts 10:23b-48

Sermon

James Merritt

... . Whatever else you believe about baptism, understand baptism was not a Baptist idea, a Methodist idea, a Presbyterian idea, Episcopalian idea or Catholic idea. It is a Bible idea. I could have just reached into my Bible jar and blindly picked out a story about baptism and illustrated all that we need to know about baptism, but I am going to choose one, again in the Book of Acts, and it is the story of the first Gentile who ever became a believer in Jesus Christ. His name was Cornelius. He lived in a place ...

634. First Thing

Matthew 6:25-34

Sermon

James Merritt

... one compartment won’t affect the rest of the ship. Even if we were to collide with an iceberg, the way the Titanic did, water rushing in will fill only that particular ruptured compartment. It cannot get to the rest of the ship.” Taking that as an illustration, this is what Osler said to those students. “Each one of you is certainly a much more marvelous organization than that great liner and bound on a far longer voyage. What I urge is that you learn to master your life by living each day in a day ...

635. Up Close & Personal: Seeing Clearly

Isaiah 6:1-13

Sermon

James Merritt

... hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” (Isaiah 6:6-7, ESV) What you see here is a perfect illustration of that truth, “God loves a sinner, but hates the sin.” What Isaiah hates in himself God hates even more, but God’s love for the sinner is greater than His hatred for the sin. Isaiah is cleansed and Isaiah is forgiven. The one thing that has to ...

636. About that Salesman

Matthew 23:1-39

Sermon

King Duncan

... off the mask and live the faith you subscribe to. In today’s world, nothing else will sell. 1. “Amazing Numbers,” edited by Harvey Spechter, Personal Selling Power, March 1995, p. 38. 2. Rodney Buchanan, http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-rodney-buchanan-stories-humility-80315.asp. 3. Joanne Mitchell, in February, 1990, Reader’s Digest. 4. Bob Fenster, Well, Duh! Our Stupid World and Welcome to It (Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2004), p. 6. 5. Jeff Strite, http ...

637. An Announcement from the Wilderness

Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

King Duncan

... Rev. Dr. Thomas G. Long, http://www.nationalcathedral.org/worship/sermonTexts/tl080601.shtml. 3. MONDAY FODDER, http://family-safe-mail.com/. 4. “Is Jesus Inclusive or Exclusive?” Theology, News, and Notes of Fuller Seminary (Oct. 1999), p. 4. 5. C. Philip Green, http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-sermon-central-staff-stories-christmas-78736.asp. 6. The Evangelical Christian. 7. “A World Without Christmas” by C. Thomas Hilton, The Clergy Journal, Nov./Dec. 2000, p. 44.

638. Prescription on a Pole

John 3:1-21

Sermon

David J. Kalas

... Jesus away, he notes that they had taken no action when he was with them “day after day in the temple.” No, but rather they act at night, for “this is your hour, and the power of darkness!” (Luke 22:53). Application As we endeavored to illustrate above, the serpent on a pole episode in Numbers serves as its own microcosmic glimpse into how God works. The provision of a remedy, though the affliction is deserved and, in some respects, self-induced; is the required participation of people in God’s ...

639. Satisfied Customer

John 6:25-59

Sermon

James Merritt

... and encouragement showing how he is the answer to every human need. You take everything that this world has to offer you and no matter what it is, you will never find final and full satisfaction and contentment in having it. Let me give you a simple illustration that you see every day. [show red neon Krispy Kreme Doughnut sign] Does that sign look familiar? When my sons were smaller we would take them downtown to Atlanta for various reasons and I would wait until I got near the Krispy Kreme on Ponce De Leon ...

640. Just Grace

Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon

James Merritt

... 19 is the first bookend. “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:30, ESV) The last verse in this parable is the other bookend. “So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16, ESV) Jesus told this story to illustrate that truth. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. How can one who finishes last be first? How can one who finishes first be last? That can only happen if the judge rules they cross the finish line at the same time. That is if ...

641. A Few Remaining Tremors

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

James Merritt

... , but you have never been hurt by others the way you have hurt God. Forgiving others is to quit focusing on what they have done to you and start focusing on what you have done to God and what God has done for you. Here is what this ending illustrates. If you refuse to forgive, if you decide to sleep in the bed of bitterness the rest of your life, do you know who you are going to wind up hurting the most? You! Forgiveness primarily benefits the one who forgives, not the one who is forgiven. Un-forgiveness ...

642. Waiting Is So Hard to Do

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon

King Duncan

... eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” 1. Sermon Fodder, http://www.sermonfodder.com/. 2. http://www.faithlutheranchurch.org/00sermons/07‑23‑00.htm 3. Clean Laffs, http://www.gophercentral.com/sub/sub-jokes.html. 4. Davon Huss, http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/scripture/illustrations-on-romans-715-725.asp?passage=romans%207:15-7:25.

643. Have You Had Your Caffeine Today?

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

King Duncan

... t make a difference in the world. Wait and pray on the Spirit of God to come into your life and the life of our church. Ask God to breathe new life into each of us today. 1. http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-scott-hippler-stories-secondcoming-peace-christmasadvent-4845.asp. 2. Uncle John’s 24-Karat Gold Bathroom Reader, Bathroom Readers’ Institute, (Kindle Edition). 3. The Rev. Dr. Thomas G. Long, http://day1.org/3822-whats_the_gift. 4. The Rev. Rick Kirchoff, address to the ...

644. The King Born in a Manger

Luke 2:8-20, Luke 2:1-7

Sermon

King Duncan

... it.” He said, “Is there more to it?” She said, “No, I only know this one verse.” So John Jacob Niles took that song, elaborated on it, and published it. (2) Since then, that beautiful carol has blessed many hearts. In its simplicity, it illustrates the feelings all of us surely have at Christmas, but especially the poor, the lonely, the hurting, the grieving. But you say, Pastor how can you say that? Don’t you know that Christmas is even harder for the poor, the grieving, the depressed? Yes, I ...

645. The Word According to Superman

Genesis 15:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... Father knows the way.” Even better, remember God’s words to Abram: “Look up at the sky and count the stars--if indeed you can count them . . . So shall your offspring be.” God always keeps His promises. 1. Walter Winchell, McNaught Syndicate, Reader’s Digest. 2. Tony Evans’ Book Of Illustrations (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009). 3. Cited by Pastor Stephen Muncherian, http://www.muncherian.com/s-mk4v35.html. 4. James S. Hewett ...

646. Eyes Fixed Upon the Goal

Philippians 3:8-14

Sermon

King Duncan

... that lifts us heavenward. Only then can we be all that God has created us to be. 1. (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1982), pp. 105-106. 2. AOL.com. 3. Harriette Cross, http://aplaceforshalom.blogspot.com/. 4. Moody Monthly, http://elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+3218. 5. Life’s Adventures, http://www.worldstart.com/comptips.htm#. 6. elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+3614) 7. Chris Sonksen, https://chrissonksen.wordpress.com/category/success/. (Growing Strong in the Season of Lent, Lent 5)

647. Waiting Vs Watching

Illustration

Michael P. Green

The Lord told us not only to wait for him but to watch for him, and he has pronounced a special blessing on those who watch. The difference between waiting and watching is illustrated in a story told of a Scotch fishing village. After days at sea, the skipper of a fishing boat was bringing his craft back home. As the boat neared the shore, the men gazed eagerly toward the dock, where a group of their loved ones were waiting. The skipper, looking ...

648. In Christ And Christ In

Illustration

Michael P. Green

The phrase “in Christ” is a statement that describes our union with Christ. Perhaps this relationship can be illustrated by the air that is in us, and yet we are also in the air. So, too, is Christ in us and we in him.

649. No Longer Live As A Caterpillar

Gal 2:20

Children's Sermon

Michael P. Green

The following illustration could be turned into a good children's sermon: In a children’s church service, a seminary student spoke on the Christian’s walk. He presented his message in the first person, or—more accurately expressed—“the first butterfly.” His dramatic monologue incorporated the following guise: two large antennas with ...

650. Death Is Unnatural

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... that it is not, and even those who deny the afterlife witness that God “has set eternity in the hearts of men.” The following extract from Charlotte and Howard Clinebell’s The Intimate Marriage (N.Y.: Harper & Row, 1970), p. 188, serves as a good illustration of this truth: One of the roots of the need for spiritual relatedness is the experience of man as the animal who knows he will die. How can one cope constructively with the dizzy flight of the years, with the knowledge that every tick of the ...

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